Arsenal have been crying out for a top class centre-back for years now and my regular readers must be fed up of me banging on about it by now!
However it’s obviously to everybody that watches Arsenal that they are just not good enough at the back.
Ideal
I read reports yesterday morning that German centre-back Per Mertesacker is attracted to the idea of moving to England.
The Werder Bremen centre-back has always impressed me whenever I have seen him play and his style suits the Premier League.
His form has suffered this season and unusually for the giant centre-back he has been making mistakes. He is still however considered one of the best defenders in Europe. Liverpool and Arsenal are said to be monitoring the defender.
Attracted
Per Mertesacker revealed his interest in newspaper Die Welt saying: “England has been an issue for a few years now, but I cannot make a decision yet,”
“Of course the Premier League is attractive, but right now there is only one issue for me and that is avoiding the drop.”
Struggling
His club Werder Bremen have struggled in the Bundesliga this season and a minority of the fans have blamed the defender for the clubs struggles. Werder are currently 12th in the Bundesliga just four points clear of the relegation zone.
The club are unlikely to be relegated but Mertesacker could be set for a summer exit due to his contract expiring in the summer 2012. That means if Werder Bremen want to sell the defender for a major fee they have to do it this summer.
If Werder decide to hold on to the big defender they may lose money. Reports suggest that the defender would cost around £15million this summer. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger seems to have a blind spot when it comes to centre-backs and goalkeepers.
A move to Arsenal would be ideal for Arsenal and the player. It seems that the player has got stale at Werder and the clubs malaise this season doesn’t seem to have helped his mindset.
Mistakes
Arsenal’s defenders have cost them titles in recent years. The club’s long wait for a trophy looks set to be extended to six years because they can’t simply lose concentration at the back.
Most trophy successful sides have solid defences and without recruiting some decent centre-backs the Gunners are always going to struggle to win trophies.
The current Arsenal team lacks leaders and Mertesacker is the sort of defender the Gunners need. They need a commanding defender with organisational skills and Mertesacker is just that sort of defender.
Arsenal have missed Belgium centre-back Thomas Vermaelen this season. The 25 year-old has been out injured since September and it’s almost certain that his season is over. French duo Sebastien Squillaci and Laurent Koscielny have been unconvincing in Vermaelen’s absence.
Arguably Arsenal’s best defender this season Johan Djourou is also out injured but could return before the end of the season
Trophies
I don’t believe that Arsenal can now win the Premier League title. Defensive duo of Squillaci and Koscielny are just not good enough. However next season if Wenger can sign somebody in the mould of Per Mertesacker then they will have a far better chance of winning a trophy next season.
Would Per Mertesacker be a good signing for Arsenal?
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